The young star, Tatiana Tien Tapia, carries the title role quite well, appearing natural and unschooled in dramaturgy. She has the same last name as the director and producer, Dalia Tapia. Quite a bit more amateurish are the other child actors, six siblings, left with grandparents in Mexico when Mom and Dad emigrate to Chicago. There's some digs at U.S. racism from way back in Gramps' memory, but Grandma is currently and viciously rejecting of ten-year-old Leti on the basis of her "dark" skin and ethnic appearance. All suffer from the separation even though financial remittances arrive from Chicago. Still we are able to see her and her sisters just being kids. When Leti is finally taken north with Mom and Dad, she is subjected to the same kind of ethnic abuse at school that she suffered at home. And the beloved Grand-dad, the only support she knew in the absence of her Mom, passes away while she is gone. Interesting in that the home in Mexico is not impoverished and is ostensibly middle-class, but strong ambitions toward a better financial future prevailed. There's some very good music in the score which does not detract from the action. Camera work and lighting mostly very good.
2 Reviews
a plain film with a clear view into a different life
TanjBennett18 February 2007
This is a film balanced somewhere between documentary and tear-jerker, but ultimately is neither. It just seems like that because the setting is quite real and the reality is moving.
Quite apart from the central story of Leti I found the detailed surroundings quite fascinating. The interactions between the children, between the grown-ups, and society as a whole. This is not much of a story about immigration to the USA, although that is background and a brief part of the story is an interlude in Chicago. If you are looking for an immigration expose this is not it. Mostly the story is about the family (both close, and extended) left behind. You get a broad brush image of family relations, prejudices, marriage, machismo, religion, and the flavor of the town where Leti and her brothers and sisters are growing up. And not painted either pretty or nasty on the whole - simply shown to you for you to think about. Plenty of things to think about.
The acting is varied. Leti, her mother, abuelito and abuelita are all well acted. Nobody else has a big role. Kudos to Leti's fairer sister who starts out a little wooden but you can see becomes a much better actress as the film progresses. There are a couple of violent scenes which are acted out in an obviously faked way - not big budget stunt person stuff. Really, it does not matter, the film has its personality and the acting gets the story across.
Colors and cinematography are occasionally allowed some free reign to show the countrysides and cityscapes. Presentation was letterbox, a disappointment (hey studio dunderheads! use anamorphic, give us proper DVD quality). Subtitles are kept within the letterbox frame, a good thing (you can read them when the film is expanded to full screen). Translation was competent. Sound was clear and the soundtrack choice of music was generally helpful.
Quite apart from the central story of Leti I found the detailed surroundings quite fascinating. The interactions between the children, between the grown-ups, and society as a whole. This is not much of a story about immigration to the USA, although that is background and a brief part of the story is an interlude in Chicago. If you are looking for an immigration expose this is not it. Mostly the story is about the family (both close, and extended) left behind. You get a broad brush image of family relations, prejudices, marriage, machismo, religion, and the flavor of the town where Leti and her brothers and sisters are growing up. And not painted either pretty or nasty on the whole - simply shown to you for you to think about. Plenty of things to think about.
The acting is varied. Leti, her mother, abuelito and abuelita are all well acted. Nobody else has a big role. Kudos to Leti's fairer sister who starts out a little wooden but you can see becomes a much better actress as the film progresses. There are a couple of violent scenes which are acted out in an obviously faked way - not big budget stunt person stuff. Really, it does not matter, the film has its personality and the acting gets the story across.
Colors and cinematography are occasionally allowed some free reign to show the countrysides and cityscapes. Presentation was letterbox, a disappointment (hey studio dunderheads! use anamorphic, give us proper DVD quality). Subtitles are kept within the letterbox frame, a good thing (you can read them when the film is expanded to full screen). Translation was competent. Sound was clear and the soundtrack choice of music was generally helpful.
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